Boris Johnson refuses to apologise after being accused of stoking tensions with 'dangerous' language

Bonnie Christian27 September 2019
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Boris Johnson has refused to apologise after being accused of stoking tensions with 'dangerous' language.

MPs has called on the Prime Minister to say sorry for some of the phrases he has used, including describing the Benn bill - passed by MPs to force the PM to seek a Brexit delay rather than crash out on October 31 - as the 'surrender act'.

Speaking on a visit to Harlow in Essex, he said: “I think the threats against MPs and particularly female MPs are absolutely appalling and we’re doing a lot of work to give MPs the security that they need.

“But then there’s another question which is – can you use words like ‘surrender’ to describe a certain act or a certain bill?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson continued to use the term "surrender act" in reference to the Benn bill.
PA

“And quite frankly I think that you can and if you say that you can’t then you’re kind of impoverishing the language and impoverishing political debate because, after all, the use of that kind of metaphor has been going on for hundreds of years.”

His comments come as former Cabinet minister Amber Rudd accused Mr Johnson of deploying aggressive language that "does incite violence".

Ms Rudd condemned as “immoral” some Downing Street tactics in the Brexit debate and criticised a “casual approach to the safety of MPs and their staff”.

Boris Johnson has come under fire from MPs for "aggressive language".
REUTERS

Mr Johnson continued to use the "dangerous" language MPs were referring to when asked if he is looking for ways to get around the Benn law.

He said: “No, I must say that we will obey the law but we’re confident that we can come out on October 31 and the best way to do that is to get a deal.

“And so that’s why the surrender act is so damaging.

“I won’t hide it from you, it has had the effect with our European friends of making them think ‘hmm, maybe parliament can block this thing, maybe they will be forced to extend’.

“If you’re in a negotiation, that obviously makes it more difficult but we are still cautiously optimistic that we can do it.”

Mr Johnson has come under intense pressure for what have been viewed as divisive remarks made in the Commons chamber.

These have included calling the Benn Act aimed at preventing a no-deal Brexit the “surrender act”, and saying the best way to honour murdered MP Jo Cox is to “get Brexit done”.

Numerous MPs have said they fear for their safety as they called for the rhetoric around Brexit to be toned down.

On Thursday, Labour MP Jess Phillips said a man was arrested after trying to "kick the door" of her constituency office while reportedly shouting that she was a "fascist".

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, meanwhile, was speaking to police following threats made to one of her young children.

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